Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)

Irma was a major hurricane that developed during the 2017 season. It was a category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane wind scale. This hurricane caused severe damage in the Caribbean area and the Florida Keys. The social, economic, and environmental impacts, mainly related to coastal flooding, were...

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Main Authors: Felipe Matos-Pupo, Matthew C. Peros, Roberto González-De Zayas, Alexey Valero-Jorge, Osvaldo E. Pérez-López, Flor Álvarez-Taboada, Rogert Sorí
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Atmosphere
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1445
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author Felipe Matos-Pupo
Matthew C. Peros
Roberto González-De Zayas
Alexey Valero-Jorge
Osvaldo E. Pérez-López
Flor Álvarez-Taboada
Rogert Sorí
author_facet Felipe Matos-Pupo
Matthew C. Peros
Roberto González-De Zayas
Alexey Valero-Jorge
Osvaldo E. Pérez-López
Flor Álvarez-Taboada
Rogert Sorí
author_sort Felipe Matos-Pupo
collection DOAJ
description Irma was a major hurricane that developed during the 2017 season. It was a category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane wind scale. This hurricane caused severe damage in the Caribbean area and the Florida Keys. The social, economic, and environmental impacts, mainly related to coastal flooding, were also significant in Cuba. The maximum limits of coastal flooding caused by this hurricane were determined in this research. Field trips and the use of the GPS supported our work, which focused on both the northern and southern coasts of the Ciego de Ávila province. This work has been critical for improving coastal flooding scenarios related to a strong hurricane, as it has been the first experience according to hurricane data since 1851. Results showed that the Punta Alegre and Júcaro towns were the most affected coastal towns. The locals had never seen similar flooding in these places before. The differences between flood areas associated with Hurricane Irma and previous modeled hazard scenarios were evident (the flooded areas associated with Hurricane Irma were smaller than those modeled for categories 1, 3, and 5 hurricanes). The effects of this hurricane on the most vulnerable coastal settlements, including the impacts on the archeological site “Los Buchillones”, were also assessed.
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spelling doaj.art-fbc35217e3be4c0a808926858942a1142023-11-19T09:31:23ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332023-09-01149144510.3390/atmos14091445Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)Felipe Matos-Pupo0Matthew C. Peros1Roberto González-De Zayas2Alexey Valero-Jorge3Osvaldo E. Pérez-López4Flor Álvarez-Taboada5Rogert Sorí6Centro Meteorológico Provincial de Ciego de Ávila, Instituto de Meteorología, Avenida de los Deportes S/N, Ciego de Ávila 65100, CubaDepartment of Environmental Studies and Geography, Bishop’s University, Sherbrooke, QC J1M 1Z7, CanadaDepartamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica, Facultad de Ciencias Técnicas, Universidad de Ciego de Ávila, Ciego de Ávila 65100, CubaCentro Meteorológico Provincial de Ciego de Ávila, Instituto de Meteorología, Avenida de los Deportes S/N, Ciego de Ávila 65100, CubaInstituto de Meteorología (INSMET), Loma de Casablanca, Regla, La Habana 11700, CubaEscuela de Ingeniería Agraria y Forestal, Universidad de León, 24004 León, SpainCentro de Investigación Mariña, Environmental Physics Laboratory (EPhysLab), Campus As Lagoas s/n, Universidade de Vigo, 32004 Ourense, SpainIrma was a major hurricane that developed during the 2017 season. It was a category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson Hurricane wind scale. This hurricane caused severe damage in the Caribbean area and the Florida Keys. The social, economic, and environmental impacts, mainly related to coastal flooding, were also significant in Cuba. The maximum limits of coastal flooding caused by this hurricane were determined in this research. Field trips and the use of the GPS supported our work, which focused on both the northern and southern coasts of the Ciego de Ávila province. This work has been critical for improving coastal flooding scenarios related to a strong hurricane, as it has been the first experience according to hurricane data since 1851. Results showed that the Punta Alegre and Júcaro towns were the most affected coastal towns. The locals had never seen similar flooding in these places before. The differences between flood areas associated with Hurricane Irma and previous modeled hazard scenarios were evident (the flooded areas associated with Hurricane Irma were smaller than those modeled for categories 1, 3, and 5 hurricanes). The effects of this hurricane on the most vulnerable coastal settlements, including the impacts on the archeological site “Los Buchillones”, were also assessed.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1445Hurricane Irmacoastal floodinghazard scenarios
spellingShingle Felipe Matos-Pupo
Matthew C. Peros
Roberto González-De Zayas
Alexey Valero-Jorge
Osvaldo E. Pérez-López
Flor Álvarez-Taboada
Rogert Sorí
Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
Atmosphere
Hurricane Irma
coastal flooding
hazard scenarios
title Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
title_full Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
title_fullStr Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
title_full_unstemmed Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
title_short Coastal Flooding Associated with Hurricane Irma in Central Cuba (Ciego de Ávila Province)
title_sort coastal flooding associated with hurricane irma in central cuba ciego de avila province
topic Hurricane Irma
coastal flooding
hazard scenarios
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/14/9/1445
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